by Ahmet Zappa
Even Lady Stella looked very starprised. “Cassie, the Wish Orb has chosen you,” she said, which seemed unnecessary, since Cassie was already cradling the glowing orb in her hands. “Are you okay?” she asked, craning her neck to look searchingly into Cassie’s eyes.
“Of course,” said Cassie. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
As Cassie sat on her bed the morning of her mission, finalizing her arrival outfit with the help of the Wishworld Outfit Selector function on her Star-Zap, she wondered why she had feared that day so much. Everyone acted like being picked to go on a Wish Mission was such a big deal, and now that Cassie was the chosen one, it didn’t seem monumental at all. For stars’ sake, even Ophelia had gone on a mission. (Granted hers had been a startacularly terrible mess.) Cassie couldn’t understand it. She flipped through the Wishworld outfits she had picked for the rest of her trip. They were all perfectly coordinated, down to the shoes and socks. She said her mantra to herself, annoyed that she hadn’t been able to change it. “Listen to your feelings. Let your inner light sparkle,” she repeated unenthusiastically. Her mantra was a dud; there was no doubt about that.
She glanced at her Star-Zap. It was time to head to the Wishworld Surveillance Deck. She picked up her Star-Zap, then decided to send a quick holo-text to Ophelia, who she hadn’t seen since that day in the Celestial Café.
Hey! I enjoyed our talk. Let’s get together soon so we can start making you sparkle! I’ll be in touch….
She snapped her phone shut. “Time to go?” she said to Sage, who chuckled as if Cassie had said something amusing.
“Time to go!” Sage said. “Is there any last-minute advice I can give you?”
Cassie shook her head. “No, I’m good.”
Cassie paused for a minute in front of the glass doors that led to the Wishworld Surveillance Deck. “You go ahead,” she said to Sage. She slipped a pair of safety starglasses over her own star-shaped glasses and took stock of herself. Though she would soon be taking off into the heavens attached to a wild shooting star and landing in an unfamiliar world, she didn’t feel any flutterfocuses taking flight in her belly. She looked down at her hands, which were not even close to trembling; they were as still as a piece of starmarble. She was cool, calm, and collected.
She pushed open the door and was immediately mobbed by Star Darlings wearing safety starglasses in a rainbow of colors. She looked around at everyone. Someone was missing. “Where’s Libby?” she asked.
“She was still sleeping,” offered Gemma. “I couldn’t get her out of bed.”
“Get out of here,” Cassie said.
A perplexed look crossed Gemma’s face. Then she shrugged. “Okay,” she said. She turned around and headed inside.
Cassie started after her, but then Vega leaned in for a hug and Cassie caught a glimpse of herself in the lenses of Vega’s blue safety starglasses. Cassie smiled at herself. She really did look great in white.
“So this is it,” she said to Vega. “Anything to share before I go?”
“Your Wisher is now busy wishin’,” Vega replied.
“That’s true,” said Cassie.
“Lots of luck upon your mission,” Vega concluded.
“Thanks,” said Cassie.
Clover stepped up and threw her arms around Cassie, nearly knocking her over. “Good luck, Cassie!” she cheered.
Adora was next. “Are you nervous, Cassie?” she said.
Huh? “Um…thanks,” replied Cassie. She was suddenly surrounded by a group all eager to say their good-byes—Tessa, Scarlet, Leona, and then Astra. Finally, Piper stepped forward.
“Wish me luck,” Cassie said to her. “Not that I—”
“Will listen!” said Piper.
“Need it,” finished Cassie.
The last people to bid farewell to her were Lady Cordial and Lady Stella. Lady Cordial handed Cassie her silver backpack, and Cassie slipped it over her arm, giving the silver stuffed star a squeeze. “Star salutations,” she told Lady Cordial.
Cassie stepped forward to join Lady Stella on the edge of the surveillance deck and found she couldn’t move. She looked down in confusion. That’s when she realized that someone had tied her shoelaces together!
“Really, Starlings?” she said as bent down to tie them properly. “That is so not funny.” Someone must be very jealous of me and my Wish Mission, she thought. But everyone looked back at her innocently.
Lady Stella helped her to her feet and put her arm around Cassie’s shoulder She pointed to the Star Wranglers throwing out their lassos made of wish energy. “You’ll be on your way any starmin now,” she said. She turned so she could look directly at Cassie. “And now some last-minute advice,” she said, her eyes shining. “It’s to trust your instincts. As I mentioned to you, your intuitive powers are startacular. And also recognize that you have the power to shape your feelings. Feeling nervous? Use your energy to turn it into excitement. But most of all, believe in yourself.”
Cassie nodded. “I’m going to do a startastic job,” she said.
Lady Stella nodded. “Of course you are.” But Cassie thought she saw a look of starprise in her eyes. She gave Cassie a searching look that made her feel like a starquark under a holo-scope.
“You seem a little different today,” Lady Stella said, a look of concern on her usually serene face.
“I am,” said Cassie. “I am.”
Cassie stood in front of a large, long building, knowing that her Wisher was somewhere inside, feeling utterly miserable. It was cold, it was muddy, and it was rainy. And rain on Wishworld was nothing like the rain back home. It was decidedly unsparkly and rather than being a gentle refreshing mist it was actually quite, well, wet. Her clothes were soaked clean through.
With a sigh she accessed her Wishworld Outfit Selector and changed from the adorable but now sopping silver platform sandals (for height as well as fashion), light floaty white top with spaghetti straps, and pair of pink-and-white wide-legged pants that ended just below the knee into a more weather appropriate ensemble—cozy leggings; an oversized pale pink sweater, toasty as a blanket; and rubber boots. She also added a waterproof coat with a hood which she pulled up to cover her now platinum-blond hair with pale pink tips. Then she bent to fish the shooting star out of the brown muck, gave it a shake, folded it up, and placed it in her backpack, right next to her safety starglasses.
She made her first observation, which she knew would be recorded in her Cyber Journal. Wish Mission 6, Wishworld Observation #1: Be sure to be fully prepared for all Wishworld weather conditions because you never know what you might need. You’ll save yourself some time and annoyance.
She took another deep breath and exhaled, marveling at the billowing white cloud she created. Then she squared her shoulders and marched forward in her rubbery boots. After waiting a moment for the heavy-looking metal door to slide open, she realized she had to push it to get inside. Look out, Wisher, here I come, she thought.
The hallway was long and appeared to be empty. Cassie stood dripping on the floor, her glasses foggy from the sudden warmth. She sighed. Wishworld was one annoyance after another so far.
“Well, hello there, young lady.”
Cassie turned around quickly in the direction of the voice, and the combination of her quick movement, her slippery boots, and the wet floor caused her feet to slide right from underneath her. Moons and stars! she thought as her feet scrabbled on the floor, looking for purchase. The next thing she knew, she was flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Oof.
A face appeared in her line of vision—a woman’s face, staring down at her and looking concerned. “Oh, my goodness, are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” said Cassie with a sigh. This was not a stellar way to begin her first Wish Mission! Luckily, the only thing that was bruised was her dignity.
The woman squinted at Cassie through a small pair of glasses perched on her nose. She was clearly trying to place her—and failing. “I’m sorry,” she said. “But I don�
�t recognize you. Who are you?” She sniffed the air. “And why does it smell just like my mother’s hummingbird cake?” she mused. “Boy does that take me back.”
Now was as good a time as any. Cassie took off her foggy glasses and stared up into the woman’s eyes. “My name is Cassie. I am the new student in school,” she said. Will it work upside down? she wondered.
It did. “Your name is Cassie, you are the new student in school,” the woman repeated as she helped Cassie to her feet. “There you go!” she said, drying her wet hands on her pant legs. “Welcome to Mountain View School, Cassie. I am Principal McIlhenney.”
“Thank you,” said Cassie, mentally congratulating herself for remembering the Wishling phrase for gratitude. She bent down, pretending to tuck her leggings into her boots, and stole a glance at her Star-Zap for directions to her Wisher’s location. “I belong in room 261,” she told the woman as she straightened up.
“You belong in room 261,” the woman echoed with a nod. “That’s Ms. Olds’s room. I’ll take you right there.” She paused. “But we’ll go to your new locker so you can store your things.”
Cassie followed the woman down the hallway and was delighted with the small metal closet—or “locker”—she was given. There was just enough room for her dripping coat, which she was happy to dispose of. She envisioned the small top section of the locker filled with books. Paper books. I can hardly wait to get my hands on them, she thought.
“Ready?” asked Principal McIlhenney.
“Ready!” said Cassie, slamming her locker shut with a clang.
Cassie slung her silver backpack over her shoulder and followed the principal down the hallway. The woman paused in front of a display opposite the stairwell. Cassie looked up. There was a photo of a serious-looking girl with straight dirty-blond hair pulled back in a headband. STUDENT OF THE MONTH, it said below her photo. “Each month a student is chosen to be honored in this way,” the principal said. She turned to Cassie and smiled. “Annabel here has received the award for three months running. It’s awarded to a very special student who not only excels academically but also sets an example for the other students with words and actions. Maybe someday it will be you.” Cassie felt a rush of warmth to her face. Well, of course I’d be Student of the Month if I attended your school, Cassie thought. I’d probably be Student of the Year if that was possible! She nodded politely and they continued up the stairs and down the hall, then stopped at the door of her new classroom. Principal McIlhenney turned to her and gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll like Ms. Olds,” she said. “She’s really kind and she’s a good teacher.”
Cassie nodded, recognizing the symbols on the classroom door from her Wishers 101 class when they had studied Wishworld holidays. They were bright green stemmed leaves with an interesting shape. “I like those…valentines!” she said. “Is it Halloween already?”
The principal chuckled. “Good one, Cassie!” She leaned toward her. “But Ms. Olds already has one class clown. She doesn’t need another!” She rapped on the door, then turned to Cassie and smiled again. “Are you ready? Don’t be nervous, now.”
“Oh, I’m not nervous at all,” said Cassie, giving the principal an odd glance for suggesting such a thing.
The woman looked surprised. “Good for you!” she said.
The door was opened by a kind-looking woman with medium-length brown hair. She wore a bright red sweater with white flowers on it. “Principal McIlhenney!” she said. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Cassie immediately filed that Wishling expression away as Mission 6, Wishworld Observation #2. I have a great ear for charming Wishling expressions, she thought.
The principal stepped through the doorway and a hush fell over the classroom, just like when Lady Stella made a surprise visit to a Starling Academy classroom or appeared as a multi-classroom holo-image to make an announcement. Principal McIlhenney introduced Cassie to her new teacher. While the adults talked, Cassie looked around the classroom, trying to see if she could pick out her Wisher. The students all looked back at her curiously. Get ready, Wisher, thought Cassie. This is your lucky day. Your wish is about to be granted! But although she knew the student had to be somewhere in the room, there wasn’t even the tiniest flicker in her glasses—her Wish Pendant.
As Ms. Olds walked Cassie to her new desk, remarking that the air suddenly smelled like deep-dish blueberry pie, Principal McIlhenney said her good-byes and left. The class relaxed visibly after she was gone. Cassie scanned the room again. Still no glow. That’s odd, she thought. Could I be in the wrong classroom? She looked at the directions on her Star-Zap. Classroom 261, just like the sign on the door. Could my Wisher be absent? There was one empty seat in the row next to hers in the back of the room….
“Cell phones are not allowed in class,” said someone in a snippy voice.
Cassie smiled at the girl, who sat in the first seat in the row next to hers. She was wearing a pale pink sweater and a plaid skirt. She was neat and tidy, not a dirty-blond hair on her head out of place.
“Thanks for the tip,” said Cassie, slipping her Star-Zap into her sweater pocket. The girl stared back, unsmiling. Cassie took a closer look. “Aren’t you the Student of the Month?” she said to her.
“That’s me,” the girl said. “Annabel Victor. And I’m going to be Student of the Month this month, too. It’ll be announced at the end of the day tomorrow.”
“Well, good for you,” said Cassie. The girl was obnoxious, but she certainly was sure of herself; Cassie had to give her that. She sat back in her decidedly uncomfortable Wishworld seat. I guess I’ll just sit back and observe, thought Cassie. Blend in and get to the bottom of this Wish Mission. She knew that she’d have it all figured out by lunchtime. She was sure of it.
She sat patiently as Ms. Olds took attendance and then asked everyone to take out their science books. Cassie was thrilled when the teacher handed her her very own copy, and she flipped through the pages excitedly. A quick glance told her that some of the information inside was hopelessly out of date, but she loved the book anyway—the weight of it in her hands, the slickness of the paper, the colorful illustrations and photographs on every page.
“Class, it’s time to get out your homework,” Ms. Olds said. Just as the students began to reach into their backpacks, the door burst open. There stood a tall, thin girl with long shiny black hair, clutching her books to her chest. She had a wide pleasant face and bright blue eyes that sparkled with mischief.
Cassie’s glasses immediately began to glow. So this was her Wisher!
Annabel scowled at her. “Those glasses have to be against the rules!” she said. “They’re very distracting!”
“Lila, you’re late,” Ms. Olds scolded gently. “What happened?”
Lila looked around the room. Cassie noticed that almost all the students were staring at her with great interest, waiting to see what happened next. She shook her head dramatically, clearly enjoying the spotlight. “It was the sign!” she said. “The one down the block, at the crosswalk.” She had a wide grin, and Cassie saw a flash of silver when she spoke. Interesting, she thought. Could that be a clue?
Ms. Olds shook her head, but there was a smile on her face. “And tell us, Lila. How did a sign manage to make you late for school today?”
Lila grinned, clearly relishing the line she was about to deliver. “It said ‘School Zone. Slow down.’ So I did!”
The rest of the class laughed. They obviously liked Lila a lot.
“Sit down, Lila,” said Ms. Olds, but in a kind way. “It’s time to turn in your homework.”
Lila still stood in the aisle. “Ms. Olds, would you ever get mad at me for something I didn’t do?” she asked.
Ms. Olds frowned. “Of course not, Lila,” she said.
“That’s good, because I didn’t do my homework!” said Lila. “Just kidding!”
The class burst into laughter.
“It’s time to sit down, Lila,” the teacher repeated.
&
nbsp; Lila paused next to Cassie’s desk on her way down the aisle. “Hey, new girl,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“Cassie,” she replied.
“What school did you come from?” Lila asked.
That was a tough one. “Star…Starfield Preparatory School of…um…Preparedness,” Cassie heard herself saying. Ugh. Why had she said that? What a ridiculous name.
But the girl laughed. “You’re funny!”
Lila sat down, and the homework was collected. Students passed their papers up the row and then the first person in each row passed them across. Ms. Olds noticed that one boy’s homework was missing, though he insisted he had turned it in. But it was nowhere to be found. Finally, Ms. Olds turned on a monitor and three images were projected onto the whiteboard in the front of the room.
“Today we are going to discuss gravity. Now, who can tell me which of these photos illustrates this force?”
Several hands shot up.
“Yes, Kristie?” Ms. Olds said. “Come show us.”
Kristie stood and walked to the front of the room. She pointed to a picture of a ball going through a basketball hoop. “Gravity is what pulls the ball back to the ground so it doesn’t go shooting off into space,” she said.
“That’s right,” said Ms. Olds. “Thank you, Kristie.”
Kristie returned to her seat, stumbling on her way down the aisle. Cassie noticed that she gave Annabel a dirty look.
“You tripped me!” she hissed.
“Why are you looking at me?” said Annabel innocently. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Settle down class,” said Ms. Olds. “Now who can tell me who discovered gravity?”
Lila raised her hand. “I can, I can!” she said.
“Yes, Lila?” asked Ms. Olds.
“Kristie did!”
Ms. Olds sighed. “Anyone else?”